The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-05-26
s<P1anted by the waters.''

<<Planted by the Waters"
In the seventeenth chapter of the
book of Jeremiah are found these
words: BLESSED is the man who trust
eth in the Lord and whose hope the
Lord is. For he shall be as a tree
planted by the waters and that spread
eth out her roots by the river, and shall
not see when heat cometh, but her leaf
shall be green; and shall not be careful
in the year of drought, neither shall
cease from yielding fruit" The old Ju-
dean teachers not only appreciated he
value of the fruit trees, but they knew
where to plant them SO as to secure a
continuous and healthy growth and a
large yield of fruit ''in it's season. 1t
is true that they lived in a country that
was dry and hot, where the soil was
quite thin, and where the rainfall "a
small and uncertain. Most kinds of
vegetation we're likely to suffer for
want of moisture at certain seasons of
the year, and not u%nfrequently animals
suffered from a like cause. Still the fig,
olive, and apple tree ftourished in nea
ly all parts of this country, but flourish
ed nowhere SO we'll as when ''planted
by the waters" On the shores of the
lakes and along the banks of streams
the most stately as we'll as the most
productive fruit trees were found.
Their leaves were green even when the
grass on the neighboring hills was
parched, and they produced fruit. when
trees remote from water-courses re-
manned barren.
That there is not a great necessity
for planting trees near bodies of water
in this country as there is in arid
regions is certain, as rainfall is more
general here and seasons of protracted
drought are not the rule. Still, obser-
walton in almost any portion of the
country shows that trees are much
more likely to live, are more hardy and
vigorous, are less liable to disease, and
are much more productive when planted
in such locations. What is true of fruit
trees in this respect is also true of trees
designed for affording shade, fuel or
timber. With the exception of certain
species of the pine and oak. the finest
specimens of trees are found near water
courses. This is the case in all parts of
the west. 1t is a popular idea that ma
tive trees are found by the side of lakes
and streams througout the prairie
region, but not on the plains them.
selves, because fires swept over the lat
ter but were stopped by the water
courses. 1t is generally believed that
the fires killed the trees that sprung
from seed dropped bv birds and animals
and carried by the wind over the prair-
les, but that they spared those that took
root on the shores OF lakes and the
banks of rivers and smaller streams. But
it is more reasonable to suppose that
the seeds of tress were more likely, to
terminate when deposited neal bodies
or streams of water. There they found
soil not covered with a thick and strong
turf of years. There the ground was
certain to be fertile. as the water would
bring down not only vegetable but min
eral matter, which contributes to the
growth of trees. There moisture would
be found at all times of the year and
during the seasons when the rainfall
was scanty. Supplied with all the
necessary conditions, the trees made a
very rapid growth and We're soon out
of the wav" of the fires that spread
across the prairies. They produced a
dense shade, which prevented the
growth of the grass and cut off the sup
ply of fuel for flames. They were so
green and full of sap that an ordinary
prairie fire had no effect on them.
The best fruit-producing regions of
the entire country are in the immedi-
ate vicinity OF large bodies of water,
which render not only the soil but the
atmosphere quite moist. Delaware
and portions of New Jersey and Mary
land have been famous for their large
and excellent crops of peaches ever since
the country was first settled. The
trees are not only very productive, but
live to a great age, and are generally
healthy in all stages of their growth.
The fruit is fair, juicy, and thin SKIM
ed. Its excellence is unquestionably
due to the bountiful supply Of moisture,
since the soil is generally quite poor.
The largest and best crops of apples
in the country are produced in Michi-
gan, New York, and the New England
states. There lakes, rivers, and small
sder streams are numerous, and the air
never becomes as dry as it does west of
the Mississippi river, while protracted
droughts are almost unknown. The
portions of Canada that border on the
great lakes, and rivers produce excel
lent fruit, and the trees are noted for
their vieor and freedom from disease
as we'll as for their wonderful produc-
tiveness. Constant but not excessive
moisture is essential to successful pear
and plum culture, Wilde ounces cannot
be produced on soil that is liable to be-
come dry even during a few weeks in
the year. The most productive pecan
and butternut trees in the west grow
along the banks of rivers and large
streams. 4 =, &c.,. Z .'s
Farmers throughout the west will
find it to their advantage to plant fruit
trees on or near the shores of lakes and
ponds and along the sides of streams.
If their land is so situated as to enable
them to do SO. In these locations their
roots will reach a soil that is constantly
moist. while the air will not be as dry
~ it is on hilltops Or on land somewhat
remote from water-courses. The banks
OF streams generally afford excellent
rof,,rol droir,ocro whioh for f,.ooc~ 10